Page 82 of A Second Chance Summer in Dublin

I gape at both of them as though they’ve lost their minds. ‘There’s no way I can afford it.’

‘You don’t have to. I have sourced two interested investors – two businesswomen, both of whom have experience in the fashion industry – and a brand-new investor who thinks your talent is off the charts. With three investors, I can get you a start-up loan to pay rent. You can deck this place out as you see fit – new business cards, materials, furniture, website, all you need. You can design dresses to sell off the rack, too, as well as your custom pieces.’

My heart is pounding with the thrill of this idea. ‘I .?.?. I don’t know what to say.’

‘Say yes! Say you’ll rent it from Donal? He’s going to give you an unbelievable deal. Whaddya say?’ Amanda steps towards me in her ballerina flats.

‘Yes. Oh my good God, yes! I say yes! YES!’ I squeal, jumping up and down.

Donal stamps his feet. ‘Brilliant!’

‘But are you sure?’ I ask him, breathless.

‘About you? Jesus. One hundred per cent.’

‘About renting this to me?’

‘One hundred per cent.’ He laughs, shoves his hands into the deep pockets of his joggers. ‘Grace, this is a businessarrangement. I’m a professional.’

‘And I cannot tell ya, when Carla Deliginue is photographed in that gold dress at the Governors Ball, you’re going to be inundated with orders. You’ll have staff here in no time, mark my words. That’s what I meant by catapult!’ Amanda enthuses.

‘More free time to go visit your folks in Bordeaux,’ Donal says, knowingly. ‘And plenty of room here for them to come and stay anytime they can get a few days away from the bar.’

‘Yiz started without me, yiz feckers!’ a voice outside interrupts us, booming loudly as we all look to the window to see one pink pointy-toed shoe appear and then another on the steps down.

‘Ah, at last. I’ve to get back to work. How long does it take to park a bloody car?’ Amanda moves to the door, hand on the handle, turns to me and says over her shoulder, ‘Meet one of your new investors!’

She swings the door open and Belinda steps in dressed in a pink pantsuit.

‘No way!’ I gasp.

‘Absofuckinglutley. I’m a businesswoman and this is a brilliant business opportunity.’ Belinda waves a large green smoothie in the air, then holds it to her mouth and sucks on the clear straw.

‘Thank you,’ I manage to say. ‘But aren’t you supposed to be on your honeymoon?’

‘Night flight, just stopping by before we head out to the airport this evening and jet off to Sardinia for a few days. Sun, sea and Stevo in Speedos. What more of a good laugh could a girl ask for?’

Before I can answer Denise and Kathleen patter down the stairs and into the basement.

‘Did yiz park the Beamer properly? Feed the meter?’ Belinda releases the straw from her mouth.

‘No, we left your BMW in the middle of the road, right opposite the police station.’ Denise rolls her eyes.

‘Hi, guys!’ Kathleen clasps her hands together. ‘Isn’t this exciting? Are you taking the basement, Grace? Carla told me you’re making her a dress, too, DMed me last night. Girl, I’m so stoked for you and you have to come to dinner at ours with me and Marina when you come to LA. I insist!’ She skips over to me and drags me into a warm embrace.

‘Of course, I’d love to meet Marina, and yes, it’s amazing, thank you, Kathleen. If it wasn’t for you—’

‘Oh, it’s not me. It’s your talent .?.?.’ Kathleen kisses me on both cheeks.

‘Just imagine this as your store? Oh my God, it’s gonna be out of this world.’ Denise butts in as she takes Belinda’s smoothie out of her hand and sucks hard on the straw, almost draining the cup.

It’s almost too much, and I burst into tears – but they are good tears, and I let them flow freely. ‘It is.’ I look at them all. ‘I’m so happy.’

‘Ahh, hun.’ Belinda wraps her arms around me, then pulls back. ‘Just one question though. If ya ever end up marryin’ Donal, are you going to change your name? ’Cause we’ll have a major branding issue.’ She props her hands on her hips.

I share a look with Donal, who pulls a fresh tissue from his joggers pocket and hands it to me.

‘She’s not changing a thing about herself for anyone, ever, right? She is her own amazing self.’ Donal’s look to me is one of immense pride.